Lanterns On The Lake spin out spectral, slow songs that suit the name of the band perfectly. Their music has a flat-out loveliness that blissfully and gradually warms the ears with its countryesque twang, folkish gentleness and moments of transcendent beauty. Slow burning. Flecked with darkness and shadow. It really is rather special.
The group are an unsigned six piece from Newcastle. And whilst the town may have an image as being the ‘lads with shirts off go fighting after drinking’ city of the north, Lanterns On The Lake are as far removed from this as is humanly possible. Theirs is a sound of subtle fragility.
Formed out of another band called Greenspace around 2007, Lanterns On The Lake make haunting pieces that glide snake like into your brain; but when they reach the spot they kiss rather than bite. The band bring multi-instrumentation of banjo, piano, drums, harmonica, guitar, cello, bass, violin, and mandolin all topped off with the dreamy ethereal vocals, both male and female. However, rather than being just another folk band, Lanterns On The Lake have a sound that pulls strands of influence from post-rock, ambient and even acoustic pop.
With two self released EP’s, Starlight and Misfortunes & Minor Victories available to buy directly here, support from BBC Radio including Steve Lamacq and Tom Robinson as well as a recent live slot with The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart, Lanterns On The Lake are gradually building a name for themselves. Their profile is not constructed on fashionable blog or media hype, but instead built out of something that could easily become a lasting musical romance that touches the heart. Unforced, tranquil and humbly beautiful.
1 comment:
What a lovely description.
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